Merciful God, You are great in compassion and Your tenderness for us is without measure. We ask You to give us today our daily bread, and also provide for the needs of all of Your hungry children around the world. Through Christ Your Son and Our Lord. Amen.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Frosted Cranberry Salad

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I have said before that the best foods, in my opinion, not only taste good, but evoke emotion. For me that means they bring back a memory. I have very few recipes from my grandma, my mother's mother, but those that I have do just that. I think about her while I'm cooking, and I think about her while I'm eating. And I think that's just a beautiful thing.

My grandma made this salad for many special events when I was growing up, but most memorably at Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's a pretty salad (although my picture isn't great) and its flavors go well with holiday meals. For some reason I like to eat it with my Crunchy Chicken Casserole -- the two are linked in my mind, like Salmon Patties and Macaroni and Cheese. This is a fruit salad that most kids enjoy -- the bottom is sweet and tangy, and the top is sweet and creamy -- a great combination. You could even serve it for dessert.




Frosted Cranberry Jello

13 oz can crushed pineapple
7 oz . bottle ginger ale
2 - 3 oz . boxes lemon Jell-O
16 oz. can jellied cranberry sauce
8 oz. whipped cream cheese
2 c. whipped cream
1/4 c. powdered sugar
½ c. chopped nuts, optional


Drain pineapple, reserve syrup. Add water to syrup to make 1 cup. Heat to boil. Dissolve Jell-O in hot liquid. Cool. Gently stir in ginger ale. Chill until syrupy and partially set. Whip cranberry sauce with a whisk. Blend in pineapple and fold into Jell-O. Turn into mold or 11”x7” dish and refrigerate until set.

Whip cream with powdered sugar. Blend in cream cheese. Spread over Jell-O; sprinkle with nuts if desired.

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2 comments:

Crafty P said...

I love recipes with a history and a story. This sounds so yummy and familiar. I'm going to have to hunt through my recipe boxes to see if it's in there. (I inherited about 9 recipe boxes when my aunt passed away and she was a foodie just like me)

the said...

Its a healthy and yummy salad. It contains lots of vitamins and minerals. Some medical professionals and specialists believe that quinic acid abundant in cranberry may help to prevent the development of kidney stones.